Dialogue

"Umm... what day is it?" I said groggily from my bed.

"Monday,” said my mom, from my doorway.

"You must me kidding," I sighed. I wasn't the least bit excited about going to school.

"You have you get up or you'll be late for the bus."

"I know, I know." The light shining from my bathroom hurt my eyes. 

"Hurry up."

"Give me a least five minutes c'mon!" I was in no condition to go to school considering I had stayed up all night studying until I took a snooze on top of my work. I waddled down the steps to get breakfast.

"So... what time did you go to bed last night?" she questioned me.

"I'm not quite sure to be honest." I muttered. I was aware the my sleep-wake cycle was a bit off, but I didn't want another lecture from my mom.

"Look you need more sleep-" I cut her off.

"Mom you don't understand I was studying for a test-" now it was her turn to cut me off.

"You can start studying earlier in the evening and still go to bed at a decent hour, you need to plan more, be more organized," she rambled the same lecture she always does. I was disinterested as usual.

   

I sat there waiting for her to finish lecturing me so I continue with my morning and make it to the bus on time.

Looking For Alaska - John Green

I started reading Looking for Alaska because a friend of mine insisted that I read it last year. It had also read another of John Green's books before and enjoyed it. So instead of going the traditional route and buy the book, I purchased the audiobook. When I started the book I was initially confused what connotations the title had with the storyline.

 Miles hasn't done a lot of "living" when he arrives at Culver Creek boarding school, he has no real friends, reads biographies, and learns people's lasts words.  There Miles meets 'The Colonel", his new roommate, who dubs him Pudge. Miles then meets The Colonel's friend Alaska Young, who Miles is immediately attracted to. Alaska is crazy yet bubbly. He also meets Takumi their other friend. The kids explain the social situation to Miles, calling the wealthy kids 'Weekday Warriors'. On Pudge's first night, a group of 'Weekday Warriors' wake him up bring him out to the lake, there they duct tape every limb together and throw him in. Luckly Miles makes it out alive, but drenched in water and embarrassment. As we continue throughout the book we learn why the other classmates do this to Miles and Alaska's evolvement. The kids pull pranks, get drunk, and learn more about each other, but no story is good without a plot twist.



2/9-2/6 Looking For Alaska - John Green - 3 hours of listening

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

I loved this book. The voice was definitely unusual and intriguing. I enjoyed seeing the main character, Frankie, develop. I realized a lot of things from Frankie's story, one being not allowing other people to define what you do or what you are. It posed a many larger questions considering that especially in high school people tend to be labeled according to who they hang out with, and other people's opinions hold a higher grade than many other things. Teenagers also tend to do what their friends do without much thought. I began to realize what Frankie realized, I don't need other people to tell me what to do, wear, or act [unless you are my parents :)]. I also don't need to prove myself to anyone, why would I need to that anyway. Why does everyone try so hard to be inculded? Why do we need other's attention to feel worthy? Who or What decides the rules and expectations of society? What is needed to make a point?


All I can say is that Frankie made a point. The point came across to me was "What is important to make one feel satisfied?", I have no clue. I know it's not trying to fit in or to do what other people do. Satisfaction doesn't come from proving a point to others, but from proving something to yourself.


The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks; E. Lockhart pages; 1-342; 5 hours

Looking for Alaska; John Green; 3 hours; audio book

The Spectacular Now; Movie Review

WARNING THIS ISN'T  IS A MOVIE REVIEW

A meaningful love story. I loved Miles Teller's character Sutter Kealey and his peculiar outlook on life. Sutter never thought of the future until it caught up with him. Sutter allowed himself, like many other teenagers, to block out feelings coming in and leaving. Appearing to be fine on the outside but doubting the appeal of adulthood and growing up. Aimee Finicky, played by Shailene Woodley, appears in Sutter's life, and pushes him towards a reality that he doesn't want to face. During this time they slowly fall for each other. 

Aimee accompanies him to meet his dead beat father, and gets in a car accident. During this time Sutter begins  to understand that there's more to life than partying and drinking. Not even receiving his high school  diploma. He sits at home and reevaluates his life. He decides to savor every moment. He realizes that he has let people down and disappointed them, and that life isn't all about the now, no matter how spectacular it is. 

☆☆☆☆☆

 five stars